Stair chair

ABSTRACT

A stair chair is provided and includes a seat  30,  a backrest  34,  a foot rest  32,  upper handles  84  and lower handles  82.  Three wheels  62  are mounted at each side of the chair. The wheels are pivotal about their own axis and also a common axis. Rotation about the common axis can be braked or locked. The chair can be lowered downstairs with a person pulling on the upper handle  84  and another person pushing on the lower handles  82  in order to slow movement of the chair down the stairs.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 09/362,651 filed Jul. 27, 1999.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to chairs and to a method of movingchairs. The invention is particularly, although not exclusively,applicable to chairs that are for use in an emergency such as chairs forevacuating buildings and chairs for maneuvering patients.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] According to one aspect of the present invention a stair chair isprovided and includes at least one wheel assembly constrained to rotateabout an assembly axis, the at least one wheel assembly comprising aplurality of wheels with each wheel being rotatable about its own wheelaxis.

[0004] The chair may include means for selectively engaging anddisengaging the wheel assembly arranged to resist rotation of the wheelassembly about the assembly axis. The means to resist rotation about theassembly axis may comprise means to prevent rotation about the assemblyaxis. Those means to prevent rotation about the assembly axis maycomprise locking means.

[0005] The locking means may comprise a retractable plunger movable froma first position in which the plunger engages the wheel assembly andanother part of the chair and a second position in which the plunger isdisengaged from the wheel assembly. The plunger may be movable by apivotal cam. The plunger may be biased towards the first position.

[0006] The locking means may be arranged to cooperate with an axleportion defining the assembly axis. The locking means may be arranged tocooperate with the axle portion in a central region of the axle. Thelocking means may be arranged to cooperate with the axle such that theaxle can be locked in one or more positions, for example threepositions. These positions may be equally angularly spaced from eachother.

[0007] The means to resist rotation about the assembly axis may comprisea brake. The brake may be arranged to induce friction to resistrotation. The brake may be arranged to vary the friction force. Thebrake may comprise an arcuate member.

[0008] The arcuate member may be pivotally connected to the chair andmovable about that pivot to apply or increase friction or to remove ordecrease friction or any combination thereof. The pivot of the arcuatemember may be arranged to be caused by an operating means. The operatingmeans may comprise a threaded portion that is arranged to engage with athreaded member whereby relative rotation of the threaded portion andthe threaded member is arranged to cause axial movement of the threadedportion to cause pivotal movement of the arcuate member.

[0009] Relative rotation of the threaded portion to the threaded membermay be arranged to occur in opposed directions to cause axial movementof the threaded portion in one of two opposed directions.

[0010] The operating means may include moveable means for engaging anddisengaging the threaded portion whereby reciprocal movement of themovable means is arranged to cause rotational movement of the threadedportion in one rotational direction only by engaging the threadedportion when moving the operating member in one direction of thereciprocal movement and disengaging this threaded portion in theopposite direction of reciprocal movement.

[0011] The assembly axis may be defined by an axle. The brake may bearranged to act on a downwardly facing portion of the axle. The brakemay be arranged to engage with an enlarged portion of the axle.

[0012] The brake may comprise a pivotal operating member movable betweena first position in which a brake portion does not have any significantbraking effect and a second position in which the brake member is urgedto resist rotation of the axle. Movement of the operating member may bearranged to move the brake between both positions.

[0013] The operating member may be arranged to be in an over centerposition when in at least one of the positions. For instance, when thebrake is applied, the operating member may have to go through a pivotalposition in which more force would be applied to the brake prior toreturning to the first position. Alternatively, or additionally,resilient means may be arranged to bias the brake into an operative orinoperative position or both.

[0014] The operating member may be connected to a rotatable shaft at alocation radially offset from the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

[0015] The brake may be adjustable whereby the length of the brakeportion from the operating member to the axle is adjustable, for exampleby rotating a threaded portion of the brake portion.

[0016] The brake may be operable by the foot of an operator, for exampleboth to apply the brake and to remove the brake. The chair may includean axle defining the wheel assembly axis. The brake and the lockingmeans may be arranged to cooperate with the same axial extent of theaxle. The brake and locking means may be arranged to act on oppositesides of the axle. The brake and the locking means may be arranged tocooperate with an enlarged portion of the axle.

[0017] The brake or alternatively or additionally the locking means mayhave the parts that cooperate with the axle concealed. The at least onewheel assembly may comprise three wheels.

[0018] The chair may include two wheel assemblies at opposed sideregions of the chair. The two wheel assemblies may be constrained torotate together about a common axis.

[0019] According to a further aspect of the present invention, a methodof moving a stair chair which includes at least one wheel assembly thatis constrained to rotate about an assembly axis in which the at leastone wheel assembly comprises a plurality of wheels with each wheel beingrotatable about its own wheel axis, the method comprising providing asupport for the stair chair by at least one wheel from the wheelassembly and rolling the stair chair on at least one wheel.

[0020] The method may comprise providing support for the chair by atleast two wheels of the wheel assembly.

[0021] The method may comprise preventing rotation of the assembly axisrelative to the remainder of the chair whereby a single wheel of thewheel assembly is able to provide the support for the chair.

[0022] The method may comprise imposing a braking force on the assemblyaxis whereby resistance to rotation about the assembly axis is imposed.The method may comprise varying that resistance. The method may compriseimposing the resistance to rotation about the assembly axis when thechair is being moved down steps or down stairs.

[0023] The method may comprise the wheel assembly rotating about theassembly axis when the chair is being moved up or down steps or stairssuch that successive wheels of the wheel assembly are caused to engagewith the step or stairs. The method may comprise the chair pivotingabout both a wheel axis and the assembly axis as the chair undergoes atleast a part of its movement relative to steps or stairs. The method maycomprise at least two wheels engaging the step or stairs as the chairundergoes movement relative to the step or stairs. The method maycomprise at least two wheels of the or each wheel assembly rotatingabout their wheel axis as the chair undergoes movement along the step orstairs. The method may comprise one wheel rotating about its wheel axisand engaging an upwardly facing portion of a stair and another wheelengaging a generally horizontal portion of a step and rotating about itswheel axis or stair simultaneously as the chair is moved relative to thestep or stairs.

[0024] According to another aspect of the present invention a foldablestair chair includes a backrest, a seat and a foot rest, the seat andfoot rest being movable relative to the backrest from an operativeposition in which the backrest projects upwardly, the seat projectsforwardly and the foot rest is located at a lower elevation than theseat, to a storage position in which the seat is located adjacent to thebackrest and the foot rest is located adjacent to the seat.

[0025] In the storage position, the backrest, seat and foot rest may begenerally parallel to each other. In the storage position at least twoof the backrest, the seat and the foot rest may be in contact with eachother and preferably all three of the backrest, seat and foot rest arein contact with each other.

[0026] In the operative position the foot rest may be arranged to extenddownwardly and forwardly. In the operative position the backrest may bearranged to extend upwardly and rearwardly.

[0027] At least one of the seat and foot rest, and preferably both, arepivotally mounted on the chair and the seat and/or the foot rest may bepivotally movable between the operative and the inoperative position.

[0028] According to another aspect of the present invention a foldablestair chair includes a backrest, a seat and a foot rest, the foot restbeing movable between an operative position in which the foot rest islocated at a lower elevation than the seat and a storage position, thechair including releasable means arranged to retain the foot rest in theoperative position.

[0029] The releasable means may comprise a retractable plunger arrangedto engage with a part of the foot rest to resist movement of the footrest away from an abutment.

[0030] According to another aspect of the present invention a foldablechair includes a backrest, a seat and a foot rest, the seat beingpivotally mounted on the chair between an operative position in whichthe seat extends forwardly and a storage position in which the seat ispivoted upwardly, the seat, in the operative position, abutting with aportion of the foot rest to resist further downwards movement of theseat about its pivotal mounting.

[0031] The foot rest may be arranged to be pivotally mounted on thechair. The seat may be arranged to abut with the foot rest in the regionof the pivotal mounting of the foot rest when the seat is in theoperative position.

[0032] According to a further aspect of the present invention a chairincludes a backrest, seat, foot rest and an upper handle portion, thehandle portion being arranged, in use, to be located at a higherelevation than the backrest.

[0033] The height of elevation of the handle portion may be adjustable,for instance between a plurality of positions and the height ofelevation of the handle portion may be arranged to be releasably held ina plurality of positions.

[0034] The configuration of the handle portion with respect to theremainder of the chair may be arranged to be adjustable and may bearranged to be held releasably in a plurality of different positions.One position of adjustment of the handle portion may be such that thehandle portion extends to elevations substantially co-extensive with theelevation of other parts of the chair and another position in which thehandle portion is at an higher elevation than other parts of the chair.

[0035] The handle portion may comprise a pair of handles and thosehandles may be arranged to extend towards each other and those handlesmay be arranged to have an extent in a substantially horizontaldirection.

[0036] The handle portion may comprise a single member. The singlemember may be arranged to be pivotally movable on the chair.

[0037] The present invention also includes a method of operating a chairincluding a handle portion with the chair being substantially as hereindescribed. The method may comprise using the handle portion to maneuverthe chair up a step or stairs, or down a step or stairs, or along agenerally horizontal plane, or any combination thereof.

[0038] According to a further aspect of the present invention a chairincludes a backrest, a seat and a foot rest and a lower handle portion.

[0039] The lower handle portion may be arranged to project forwardlyfrom the foot rest and may project forwardly and downwardly from thefoot rest or downwardly from the foot rest or any combination thereof.

[0040] The handle portion may comprise a pair of handles spaced fromeach other.

[0041] The lower handle portion may include a pair of handles arrangedto project forwardly from each side of the foot rest.

[0042] The handle portion may be arranged to occupy a plurality ofpositions and may be arranged to be releasably held in those positions.

[0043] The lower handle portion may comprise a pair of handles and thehandles may be arranged to occupy a position in which they aresubstantially co-extensive, for instance side-by-side with, the footrest.

[0044] The handle portion may be arranged to extend forwardly andupwardly from the foot rest.

[0045] The handle portion may comprise a single member and that singlemember may be arranged to be pivotable between a plurality of differentpositions.

[0046] The lower handle portion may be connected to the foot rest andmay be constrained to move within the foot rest.

[0047] The present invention also includes a method of using a chairhaving a backrest, a seat, a foot rest and a lower handle portion asherein referred to. The method may comprise pushing against the lowerhandle portion to resist movement of the chair down a step or stairs orto urge the chair up a step or stairs or any combination thereof.

[0048] The present invention also includes a chair including a backrest,a seat and a foot rest in which the chair includes a support extendingupwardly in the middle region of the chair.

[0049] Any or all of the foot rest, backrest, seat or wheel assembliesmay be connected to the support in the central region. The upper handleportion may be adjustable relative to the support. The seat or the footrest or both may be pivotally connected to the support. The brake or thelocking means or both may be at least partially concealed within thesupport.

[0050] The at least one wheel assembly may be rotatably connected to thebottom region of the support.

[0051] According to a further aspect of the present invention, a chairincorporates a seat, a backrest and a handle portion, the seat andbackrest being movable relative to each other between an operativeposition and a storage position in which, in the storage position, thehandle portion is arranged to retain the seat and backrest together.

[0052] The handle portion may be movable, in the storage position,between a first position in which the seat and backrest can moverelative to each other and a second position where that relativemovement is inhibited. The movement of the handle portion may bepivotal. Locking means may be provided to retain the handle in thesecond position.

[0053] In the operative position the handle portion may be an upperhandle portion.

[0054] The handle portion may comprise a pair of handles.

[0055] The seat may include a foot rest that is also movable between theoperative position and the storage position. The foot rest may also bearranged to be retained in the storage position by the handle portion.

[0056] The present invention includes any combination of the hereinreferred to features or limitations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0057] The present invention can be carried into practice in variousways but several embodiments will now be described by way of example,and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0058]FIG. 1 is a side view of a chair in an operative position;

[0059]FIG. 2 is a side view of the chair in a storage position;

[0060]FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the rear of the base of the chairshowing the mechanism that retains a foot rest of the chair in anoperative position;

[0061]FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 that shows a locking mechanismfor a wheel assembly of the chair;

[0062]FIG. 5 is an underneath view of part of the chair showing a brakemechanism;

[0063]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a chair inan operative position;

[0064]FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of a brake and locking mechanismemployed for the chair of FIG. 6;

[0065]FIG. 8 is a detail view of a locking mechanism for a foot rest forthe chair of FIG. 6, and

[0066]FIG. 9 is a view from underneath of part of the brake mechanismfor the chair of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0067] As shown in FIG. 1, the chair 10 includes a seat 30 on which, inuse, a person to be transported sits with his feet resting on adownwardly and forwardly inclined foot plate 32 with his back beingsupported by an upwardly and rearwardly inclined backrest 34.

[0068] As shown in another embodiment in FIG. 6, the foot rest 132 isdefined by a series of three parallel bars which can rest on the groundand on which a patient's feet can rest. In this embodiment a patient'slower legs can extend straight down from his upper legs with the feetresting in a flat position.

[0069] Straps (not shown) may surround a patient's legs to hold themtogether on the foot plate 32 or foot rest 132. These straps may befastened by cooperating hooks and eyes, for instance, to make the strapseasily attachable and detachable. The straps may be connected to eitherside of the foot plate or they may be connected to the rear of the footplate or they may extend over the complete under surface of the footplate.

[0070] A harness (not shown) may be connected to the backrest 34 or 134or to the rear of the backrest 34 or 134. Straps of the harness may goover each shoulder and under each arm to be detachably connected acrossthe chest of a patient to be transported.

[0071] The straps of the foot rest and the harness hold the patientsecurely on the chair. This is of particular importance where the chairhas to be moved in a hurry or where the chair has to negotiate stepswhere the operators controlling the chair will need their hands free tomaneuver the chair.

[0072] Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 6, the seat 30 or 130 is supportedby and connected to a pair of bars 36 that are pivotally connected to acentral tubular trunk 38 or 138 of the chair. The bars 36 extend in astraight direction beneath the seat 30 or 130 before extending upwardlyfrom the rear of the seat, to the axially aligned pivots 40 at each sideof the trunk, as shown in FIG. 1. The foot rest 32 is supported by andconnected to generally straight parallel bars 42 or 142 as shown thatextend upwardly and rearwardly from the foot rest before extendinggenerally upwardly to pivots 44 on each side of the trunk 38.

[0073] In the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, downwards movement of theseat 30 or 130 about the pivots 40 is prevented by abutment of the bars36 of the seat with the mounting for the pivots 44 of the bars 42 or142.

[0074] In the operative position shown in FIG. 1, downwards movement ofthe foot rest is prevented by abutment of a cross bar 46 extendingbetween the bars 42 with a screw stop 48 extending forwardly from thetrunk, as best shown in FIG. 3. The extent of the screw stop 48 from thetrunk can be adjusted by rotating the screw portion to cause the stopportion to move in a translational direction towards or away from thetrunk. A plate 50 extends forwardly from the trunk just below the screwstop 48. A plunger 52 projects upwardly through the plate. When crossbar 46 abuts the screw stop 48, forward movement of the cross bar isprevented by abutment with plunger 52. In this way the footplate islocked in position relative to the trunk. The plunger can be retracteddown through plate 50, against a spring bias, by pulling downwardly onknob 54 located beneath the plate and connected to the plunger. In theretracted position of the plunger, the footplate can be moved about itspivot to allow the cross bar to move towards or away from screw stop 48.

[0075] In FIG. 8 a plunger 152 is mounted on a cross bar 153 of the footrest. A bracket (not shown) is secured to the trunk 138 and, in theoperative position, is located beneath the plunger 152. The plunger canbe pulled to be retracted against a spring force. When released, theplunger extends through the cross bar 153 into an opening in the bracketto prevent movement of the foot rest relative to the trunk. The footrest can be freed to allow it to be collapsed by retracting the plungerfrom the opening in the bracket.

[0076] The stair chair can be moved from an operative position shown inFIGS. 1 and 6 to a storage position shown in FIG. 2 by moving the seat30 or 130 upwardly about the pivots 40 until the seat 30 or 130 extendsupwardly and rearwardly, flat against the backrest 34 or 134. Then theplunger 52 or 152 is retracted to release or free the cross bar andallow the foot rest 32 or 132 to be moved upwardly about the pivots 44until the foot rest lies flat against what is normally the underside ofthe seat. In this position the planes of the backrest, seat and footrest are generally parallel to each other and they are closely adjacentto each other or in contact with each other to provide a compact storageconfiguration. If desired, straps can be provided to secure thebackrest, seat and foot rest together in the storage configuration.Alternatively, the handles 184 shown in FIG. 6 can be pivoted through180° to bring the handles over the foot rest and seat to retain them inthe storage position. In that configuration, one of the bars of the footrest 132 projects above the handle to maneuver the chair on the wheelsto lift the chair to a storage position.

[0077] The trunk 38 or 138 includes a lower tubular hollow branch 56 or156, shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, through which an axle 58 (shown in FIG. 4)is rotatably mounted. The axle rotatably supports wheel assemblies 60 or160 at each side of the chair.

[0078] Each wheel assembly 60 or 160 preferably includes three wheels 62or 162 that are axially aligned with each other. The pivot axis of eachwheel 62 or 162 is spaced an equal radial distance from, and an angularextent around the longitudinal axis of the axle 58. The mounting of eachwheel 62 or 162 is provided by a pair of brackets 64 or 164 that arefixed to the axle 58 and that provide a pivot for each wheel 62 or 162extending across the brackets 64 or 164 through each wheel.

[0079] In the storage position of the chair shown in FIG. 2, two of thewheels 62 or 162 at each side provide support for the chair. The trunk38 or 138 though is able to pivot about the axle 58. That would make thechair unstable if the only support for the chair were provided by thewheels 62 or 162 and the chair would fall from the position shown.

[0080] Accordingly axle and trunk locking means as shown in FIG. 4 areprovided to prevent relative rotation of those parts. The lockingmechanism for the chair 110 shown in FIG. 6 will be described later.

[0081] The locking means comprises a plate 66 extending upwardly fromone side of the branch adjacent to the inside bracket 64 of a wheelassembly 60. A retractable plunger 67 extends through the plate into ahole (not shown) in the bracket 64. With the plunger being located inthe hole in the bracket, the bracket is not able to rotate relative tothe branch or trunk and the axle 58 is fast with the trunk.

[0082] The plunger can be retracted against a spring force, by pivotinga lever 68 from the horizontal position shown in FIG. 4 to an uprightposition. During that movement of the lever 68, a cam is engaged tocause axial movement of the lever and the plunger to which it isconnected to retract the plunger from the hole. Insertion of the plungerinto the hole is achieved by moving the trunk about the axle 58, ifnecessary, to align the plunger with the hole in the bracket andpivoting the lever 68 back into the horizontal position to allow thespring to push the plunger into the locking position.

[0083] Chair 10 is also provided with a brake to inhibit free rotationof the trunk 38 about the axle 58. The brake for the chair 110 will bedescribed later.

[0084] The brake is located at the base of the trunk, as shown in FIG.5. The brake comprises an operative member 70 connected by a pivot 72 atone side of the trunk and extending around the base of the trunk whereit is connected to rod 74 that extends up the other side of the trunkthrough a bracket 76 extending from the rear of the trunk. The rod 74can be moved up and down along the trunk as described below to causemember 70 to move about pivot 72.

[0085] The upwardly facing surface of member 70 includes an arcuatefriction member (not shown) that is arranged to cooperate with afriction disc 78 secured to axle 58 and projecting through the lower endof the trunk.

[0086] As rod 74 is moved upwardly, the operative member 70 is movedabout pivot 72 to cause the friction member to engage with the frictiondisc to inhibit relative rotation of axle 58 and trunk 38.

[0087] Further upwards movement of the rod causes that resistance torelative movement to be increased. Ultimately the brake can lock theaxle 58 and trunk together.

[0088] Movement of rod 74 is achieved by a control lever 80 abovebracket 76 and through which the rod extends. Rod 74 threadably engagesbracket 76 such that relative rotation of the rod causes up or downmovement of the rod along the trunk.

[0089] Lever 80 is pivotally connected to the bracket such that a socket(not shown) in the base of the lever can selectively engage with a nuton the top of the rod. Adjustment of the rod is achieved by pivoting therod in an upwards direction to engage the socket with the nut and thenrotating the lever in one direction to cause the rod to rotate. Then thelever is pivoted in a downwards direction to disengage the socket fromthe nut and the lever is rotated in the opposed direction withoutrotating the rod. By repeating this sequence, the rod can be repeatedlyrotated in one direction to raise or lower the rod and to increase ordecrease or remove the brake, depending on the direction of rotationwhen the nut and socket are engaged.

[0090] The locking mechanism of the chair 110 will now be described withreference to FIG. 7. A plate 166 is secured to the trunk 138 adjacent tothe bottom of the trunk. A retractable plunger 167 extends through theplate 166 and the trunk 138 towards a friction disc 178 that is securedto axle 158. The plunger is able to be biased towards the disc to restin one of a series of three holes 169 that are equally spaced in thecircumferential surface of the disc 178. When located in one of theholes the axle 158 is secured to the trunk and the wheel assemblies arealways in the same configuration with respect to the trunk, even thougheach wheel may be in one of three possible positions.

[0091] The plunger can be retracted against a spring force by pivoting alever 168 to cause a cam to be engaged to cause axial movement of theplunger.

[0092] The plunger is applied by a spring force against the disc bymoving the lever in the opposite direction. The chair can then be movedto rotate the axle until the plunger is aligned with, and moves intoanother one of the holes 169.

[0093] The brake for the chair is also located in the bottom of thetrunk. It includes a brake liner 171 on a block 173 that can act againstthe upwardly facing surface of the disc 178.

[0094] The top of the block 173 is attached to a threaded rod 175 thatis locked in position by a nut 177. The nut 177 can be slackened and therod can be screwed into or out of the block, before tightening the nut177 again, to alter the extent of the rod 175 from the block to adjustthe effective length of the assembly and the breaking force, forinstance to take account of wear of the friction surfaces.

[0095] The top of the rod includes a cylindrical opening. A bolt 179 ispassed through that opening and threadably engages with the end of ashaft 181 off center from the longitudinal axis of the shaft 181.

[0096] The shaft 181 extends through the trunk 138 and is rotatablymounted in a bushing 183 (see FIG. 9) on the side of the trunk. A bolt185 threadably engages with the bushing 183 and extends into acircumferential groove of the shaft 181 to axially locate the shaft.

[0097] A foot pedal 187 is secured to the free end of the shaft. Pushingthe pedal down causes the bolt 179 to move from a position in which itscenter is generally at the same height as the axis of the shaft, aroundto a position in which the center of the bolt is generally beneath theaxis of the shaft. This movement causes the top of the rod 175 to movein an arcuate direction downwardly and to the right to apply the brake.If desired, this position may be such that the axis of the rod 175extends over center, to the right of the axis of the shaft 181 such thatthe rod resists movement in the reverse direction as such movement wouldtend first to urge the brake more firmly into engagement before thebrake was released.

[0098] The brake is removed by a user pushing up with his foot on theunderside of the pedal 187 to cause the bolt 179 to move back, takingwith it the rod 175.

[0099] If desired, the pedal can be raised until the axis of the rod 175again passes to the right of the axis of the shaft 181 in an over centerposition to prevent the brake from coming on again.

[0100] Alternatively or additionally, a spring (such as a compressionspring) may be connected between the pedal or an extension of the pedalsuch that, with the pedal pushed down to apply the brake, the springurges the brake on, and, with the pedal in the raised position, thespring acts to hold the pedal up and the brake off.

[0101] The bottom of the trunk may include a cap 189 to protect thebrake and locking mechanism from the environment.

[0102] The chair 10 or 110 has many modes of operation including:

[0103] movement up stairs or steps;

[0104] movement down stairs or steps, and

[0105] movement along a non-stepped surface.

[0106] Referring first to movement upstairs or steps, the axle is ableto rotate relative to the trunk. The chair is reversed towards the stepsby a first operator tilting the trunk rearwardly by pushing down andrearwardly on upper handles 84 at the top of the chair to raise the footrest and associated lower handles 82 or 182 clear of the ground. Thenthat operator pulls the handles 84 or 184 rearwardly to cause the chairto roll rearwardly over the ground on two pairs of wheels 62 or 162 ateach side of the chair.

[0107] When one wheel 62 or 162 at each side of the chair abuts thevertical surface of a step a second operator grips the lower handles.Then the first operator pulls on the upper handles 84 or 184, generallyin the line of inclination of the steps, and the lower operator may,optionally, apply a lifting force or a pushing force or both.

[0108] The first wheels 62 or 162 that engage with the base of the stepremain in position and the wheel assemblies 60 or 160 pivot about theaxis of the axle 58 to cause the wheels 62 or 162 of the assemblies thatpreviously provided no support for the chair to move towards engagementwith the step and to raise the remaining wheels clear off the ground.

[0109] The wheel assemblies continue to rotate to bring successivewheels into contact with the steps as the chair is being moved up thestairs. Thus the wheels provide vertical support for the chair over themajority of the movement of the chair. Furthermore, as the wheels engagewith the vertical part of the steps control is provided on the movementof the chair up the steps.

[0110] For steps having large horizontal surface, two wheels willbriefly be in contact with the step as the chair is advanced along thatstep until the leading wheels abut the base of the next vertical step.As the chair is being lifted following that abutment, succeeding wheelsmay abut the vertical extent of the steps as the chair is being raised,together with the wheel that abutted the base of the step to roll thechair up. Alternatively, the wheel succeeding that at the base mayengage the flat surface of the next step or the corner between thehorizontal and vertical parts of the step to cause both wheels to ridearound the corner.

[0111] To descend stairs, the brake can be applied to an extent, ifdesired, to stop the chair from tending to run away down the stairs andto ease the load on the operators to resist that movement. The chair ispushed along the ground towards the stairs in a forwards direction by anoperator gripping the handles 84 or 184 and with the chair being tiltedback slightly such that two pairs of wheels at each side support thechair.

[0112] As the top of the stairs are approached, an operator already partof the way down the stairs grips the lower handles 82 or 182. Theoperators then provide resistance, if required, to the force of gravitymoving the chair down the stairs with the wheel assemblies and the axle58 moving and engaging with the steps substantially as previouslydescribed. The lower handles, in the position shown, extend downwardlyand forwardly from the foot rest, generally in the direction of the footrest. Consequently the lower operator is clear of the foot rest and thefeet of a person on the chair. Furthermore, the lower operator can takethe handles and control movement of the chair without necessarily havingto bend at all, and may only have to push against the handles.

[0113] To move the chair along flat ground, only one operator need beused who grips the upper handles 84 or 184. To make the chair moremaneuverable, the wheel assemblies and the axle can, optionally, belocked in position relative to the trunk either by the brake, or morepreferably, by locking the brackets of the wheel assemblies. Then thechair can be tipped back such that support is provided by one wheel onlyat each side. This allows the chair to be maneuvered, forwards orbackwards, and around corners without resistance such as would beprovided if two supporting wheels at each side had to scrape around thecorner.

[0114] The lower handles are able to occupy more than one positionrelative to the foot rest. In the figures, the handles are shown asprojecting forwardly from the foot rest in the general plane of the footrest. These handles though could be pivoted to a position in which theyextend alongside the foot rest in the plane of the foot rest. Thisprovides a compact configuration when the chair is being maneuvered on aflat surface or is useful when the chair is being stored. The lowerhandles are able to occupy a third position in which they extendupwardly, generally at right angles to the plane of the foot rest. Thisposition is particularly useful when the chair is being lowered downstairs as it enables the lower operator to push or lean against thehandles to provide resistance to the chair moving downstairs.

[0115] The upper handles are also able to occupy more than one position.Although the upper handles are shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 as being a straightcross-bar, in practice each end of the bar may include parallel barsthat extend first away from the axial extent of the cross-bar and thenback, to a small extent, towards each other to allow that small extent,known as a hand grip, to be held.

[0116] The upper handles are able to rotate on their mounting relativeto the trunk. The handles can occupy a first position in which the barsthat extend from the cross-bar to the hand grip are generally parallelto the longitudinal extent of the trunk. This allows the hand grips tobe engaged to allow an upper operator to pull the chair upstairs or tolower the chair downstairs. To ensure that the upper operator canmaintain an advantageous lifting or weight bearing position, the crossbar is mounted on a rod that is telescopically located within the trunk.A retractable spigot (not shown) extends through the trunk and can beselectively engaged in one of a series of, for instance, eight openingsin the rod to locate the rod in the required telescopic positionrelative to the trunk.

[0117] With the rod being extended from the trunk, the chair is adaptedfor easy lowering down particularly steep stairs with a favorableoperator position.

[0118] With the rod being collapsed within the trunk the configurationis compact for storage. In that position the bars that extend away fromthe cross bar may extend downwardly or parallel to the spine to occupy acompact storage configuration.

[0119] The bars that extend from the cross bar may also extendrearwardly of the trunk, or rearwardly and downwardly relative to thetrunk. This is a particularly favorable position for an operator to beable to engage the hand grips and tilt the chair back slightly formaneuvering on flat ground or to allow the chair to approach stairs.

[0120] The upper and lower handles are each mounted on a cross-bar thatextends through a socket. A retractable spigot may extend through thesocket to allow one of a selected series of holes in the cross-bars tobe engaged to hold the cross-bar and thus the handles in the requiredangular position.

[0121] Each feature disclosed in this specification (including anyaccompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced byalternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose,unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly statedotherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a series ofequivalent or similar features.

[0122] The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoingembodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novelcombination, of the features disclosed in this specification (includingany accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, orany novel combination, of the steps of any method or process sodisclosed.

We claim:
 1. A chair including at least one wheel assembly having anassembly axis, said wheel assembly being constrained to rotate about theassembly axis, the at least one wheel assembly comprising a plurality ofwheels, each of said wheels being rotatable about its own axis, saidchair further including a backrest, a seat and a foot rest, said seatbeing pivotally mounted on said chair between an operative position inwhich said seat extends forwardly and a folded, storage position inwhich said seat is pivoted upwardly, said seat, in the operativeposition, abutting with a portion of said foot rest to resist furtherdownward movement of said seat about its pivotal mounting.
 2. A chair asclaimed in claim 1 in which said foot rest is pivotally mounted on saidchair.
 3. A chair as claimed in claim 2 in which said seat abuts withsaid foot rest in the region of the pivotal mounting of said foot restwhen said seat is in the operative position.
 4. A chair as claimed inclaim 1 including a handle portion in which is adjustable between aplurality of different positions, one position of adjustment of saidhandle portion being such that the handle portion extends to anelevation substantially co-extensive with the elevation of the otherparts of said chair and another position in which the handle portion isat a higher elevation than the other parts of said chair.
 5. A chairincluding at least one wheel assembly having an assembly axis, saidwheel assembly being constrained to rotate about the assembly axis, theat least one wheel assembly comprising a plurality of wheels, each ofsaid wheels being rotatable about its own axis, said chair furtherincluding a seat, a backrest and a handle portion, said seat and saidbackrest being movable relative to each other between an operativeposition and a storage position in which, in the storage position, saidhandle portion is arranged to retain said seat and said backresttogether.
 6. A chair as claimed in claim 5 in which the movement of saidhandle portion is pivotal movement.
 7. A chair as claimed in claim 5including a foot rest, said foot rest arranged to be retained in thestorage position by the handle portion.
 8. A method of moving a chairincluding at least one wheel assembly that is constrained to rotateabout an assembly axis in which the or each wheel assembly comprises aplurality of wheels with each wheel being rotatable about its own wheelaxis comprising the steps of providing a support for the chair by atleast one wheel from the at least one wheel assembly and rolling thechair on at least one wheel.
 9. A method as claimed in claim 8comprising providing support for the chair by at least two wheels of theat least one wheel assembly.
 10. A method as claimed in claim 8comprising preventing rotation of the assembly axis relative to theremainder of the chair whereby a single wheel of the or each assembly isable to provide the support for the chair.
 11. A method as claimed inclaim 8 comprising imposing a braking force on the assembly axis wherebyresistance to rotation about the assembly axis is imposed.
 12. A methodas claimed in claim 11 comprising imposing the resistance to rotationabout the assembly axis when the chair is being moved down steps or downstairs.
 13. A method as claimed in claim 8 comprising the wheel assemblyrotating about the assembly axis when the chair is being moved up ordown steps or stairs such that successive wheels of the or each wheelassembly are caused to engage with the step or stairs.
 14. A method asclaimed in claim 8 comprising the chair pivoting about both a wheel axisand the assembly as the chair undergoes at least a part of its movementrelative to steps or stairs.
 15. A method as claimed in claim 8comprising at least two wheels engaging the step or stairs as the chairundergoes movement relative to the step or stairs.
 16. A method asclaimed in claim 8 comprising at least two wheels of the at least onewheel assembly rotating about their wheel axis as the chair undergoesmovement along the step or stairs.
 17. A method as claimed in claim 8comprising one wheel rotating about its wheel axis and engaging anupwardly facing portion of the step or stairs and another wheel engaginga generally horizontal portion of the step or stairs and rotating aboutits wheel axis simultaneously as the chair is moved relative to the stepor stairs.
 18. A method as claimed in claim 8 in which the chairincludes a handle portion, said method comprising pulling the handleportion to maneuver the chair up a step or stairs or down a step orstairs or along the horizontal or any combination thereof.
 19. A methodas claimed in claim 8 in which said chair includes a lower handleportion, said method comprising pushing against the lower handle portionto resist movement of the chair down a step or stairs or to urge thechair up a step or stairs.
 20. A chair including a back rest, a seat,and at least one wheel assembly having an axle defining an assemblyaxis, said at least one wheel assembly being constrained to rotate aboutsaid assembly axis, the at least one wheel assembly comprising aplurality of wheels, each of said wheels being rotatable about its ownaxis, said chair further including a foot rest, said seat and said footrest being movable relative to the back rest from an operative positionin which said back rest projects upwardly, said seat projects forwardly,and said foot rest is located at a lower elevation than said seat to afolded, storage position in which said seat is located adjacent to saidback rest and said foot rest is located adjacent to said seat, and inwhich, in said storage position, said back rest, said seat, and saidfoot rest are generally parallel to each other.
 21. A chair as claimedin claim 20 in which said seat is pivotally mounted on said chair and ispivotally movable between said operative and storage positions.
 22. Achair as claimed in claim 20 in which said foot rest is pivotallymounted on said chair and is movable between said operative and storagepositions.
 23. A chair including a back rest, a seat, a foot rest, andat least one wheel assembly having an axle defining an assembly axis,said at least one wheel assembly being constrained to rotate about saidassembly axis, the at least one wheel assembly comprising a plurality ofwheels, each of said wheels being rotatable about its own axis, saidseat being pivotally mounted on said chair between an operative positionin which said seat extends forwardly and a folded, storage position inwhich said seat is pivoted upwardly, said seat, in the operativeposition, abutting with a portion of said foot rest to resist furtherdownward movement of said seat about its pivotal mounting.
 24. A chairas claimed in claim 23 in which said foot rest is pivotally mounted onsaid chair.
 25. A chair as claimed in claim 24 in which said seat abutswith said foot rest in the region of the pivotal mounting of said footrest when said seat is in the operative position.
 26. A chair as claimedin claim 23 including a handle portion which is adjustable between aplurality of different positions, one position of adjustment being suchthat said handle portion extends to an elevation substantiallyco-extensive with the elevation of the other parts of said chair andanother position in which said handle portion is at a higher elevationthan the other parts of said chair.
 27. A chair including a back rest, aseat, a handle portion, and at least one wheel assembly having an axledefining an assembly axis, said at least one wheel assembly beingconstrained to rotate about said assembly axis, the at least one wheelassembly comprising a plurality of wheels, each of said wheels beingrotatable about its own axis, said seat and said back rest being movablerelative to each other between an operative position and a storageposition in which, in the storage position, said handle portion isarranged to retain said seat and backrest together.
 28. A chair asclaimed in claim 27 in which the movement of said handle portion ispivotal movement.
 29. A chair as claimed in claim 27 in which saidhandle portion is movable, in said storage position, between a firstposition in which said seat and back rest are movable relative to oneanother and a second position in which relative movement between saidseat and said back rest is inhibited.
 30. A chair as claimed in claim 29including a locking mechanism to retain said handle portion.
 31. A chairas claimed in claim 27 including a foot rest, said foot rest beingarranged to be retained in the storage position by said handle portion.32. A chair including a back rest, a seat, a foot rest, a lower handleportion, and at least one wheel assembly having an axle defining anassembly axis, said at least one wheel assembly being constrained torotate about said assembly axis, the at least one wheel assemblycomprising a plurality of wheels, each of said wheels being rotatableabout its own axis.
 33. A chair as claimed in claim 32 in which saidlower handle portion is arranged to project forwardly from saidfootrest.
 34. A chair as claimed in claim 32 in which said lower handleportion is arranged to project forwardly and downwardly from saidfootrest.
 35. A chair as claimed in claim 32 in which said lower handleportion comprises a pair of handles spaced from each other.
 36. A chairas claimed in claim 32 in which said lower handle portion is connectedto said foot rest.